putnam



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Moel.)

T. A. B. PUTNAM. UNDERGROUND CONDUIT.

No. 335,091. Patented Jan., 26, 1886.

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

T. A. B. PUTNAM. UNDERGROUND GONDUIT.

No. 335,091. Patented Jan. 26, 1886.

l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE A. B. PUTNAM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF IOVILLIAM OOURTENAY, OF SAME PLACE.

UNDERGROUND CONDUIT.

ELDECIFICILTION forming part of Letters Patent No. 335,091, datedJanuary 26, 1886.

Application filed Scptember24. 1885. Serial No. 177,959. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, 'IHEoDoRE A. B. PUT- NAM, a resident of the city,county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Underground Conduits for Electric .Vii'es, of which thefollowing is a specitication.

rlhe object of my invention is to provide a conduit so constructed thatvarious wires can Io be carried in the same conduit and be free from theinduction of currents on one another; p

that wires of one class or company can occupy a separate compartment andbe manipulated without injury to other wires; that the wires can bebranched easily through pipe attachments or branch conduits; that accesscan be readily had from the street-surface; that wires can be drawn inat any time by means of a device, hereinafter described, in permanentattachment to the conduit without injury or removal of those inpossession, and that these features can be accomplished and constructedin a rapid and not too costly manner.

I have shown in the drawings six separate 2 5 compartments, designed fortelephone, telegraph, district, lire, quotation, and electriclightservice.

My invention consists in the combination of devices hereinafterparticularly described, and 3o as more at length recited in the claims.

There are two plates illustrating the invention, comprising Figures 1,2,3, and 4. Fig. l is a longitudinal elevation showing the connection ofone section to another, with an in- 3 5 terior view of the arrangementsof same. Fig.

2 shows a plan View with chamber for communicating to the surface. Fig.3 shows a cross-section with interior elevation. Fig. 4i shows aperspective View of a branching section and method of prolonging thesame,with

means of access.

Similar letters indicate similar parts. I construct the conduit shown inthe drawings preferably of iron; but any suitable material can be used.The sections A are cast of any suitable length and capacity,withhorizontal partitions B of any number cast or inserted in the same, andforming separate compartments for the reception of wires. The partitionsor screens B are connected electrically ments.

Access is obtained to the wires within the 6o conduit, and theirdirection changed to any point outside of the same, as follows:Rightangled branching sections E are made, having flanged rims at thefour terminations to engage those of sections A. 'Iwo of these ter- 65minal entrances are shown open in the drawings, Fig. 4. Vhensuchentrances are not joined to main sections A, they may be closed by asuitable metal plate. The arrangement of the partitions B is continuedthroughout 7o all portions of the sections E, so as to coincid with thelevel of same in sections A.

Between the two adjacent vertical faces or walls of the branch sectionE, at the diametrically-opposite angles thereof, is cast or otherwiseformed or provided a base plate or web,

D, extending from the lower edge of one of said adjacent wallsexteriorly to the other, as shown in Figs. 4i and 2.

H is a drum or cylinder, which is fitted down 8o upon the plate D, beingcut away vertically and laterally to t upon and against the side and topwalls of the section E, thus constituting a chamber intermediate theangle ends of the said section, as shown in Fig. 2.

In the adjacent side walls of the section E, wit-hin and forming part ofsuch chamber, are cut the openings O, of dimensions suitable to admit ofthe passing of the hands and arms through them. These openings C are oneop- 9c posite or opening into each of the compartments constituted inthe interior of the conduit, as hereinbefore described, and thusconstituting communication between each compartment and the chamberformed by the drum 9 5 D. The drum is intended to extend upward to thesurface of the street or ground,where a mau-hole cover may be provided.

In the vertical section-walls within the chambers D are the openings c,through which lo@ Wires may be conducted from the compartments upward ofthe chambers to the groundlevel for the purpose of entering buildings,85e. These openings c are, several of them, arranged to formcommunication between each compartment and the chamber D, as shown inFig. 4.

In combination with the conduit and branch section, constructed asdescribed, I employ the following-described devices to facilitate theintroduction of the Wires into the several compartments and manipulatingthem therein. A rope or traveler, I, beginning in compartment l ofsection E, (left hand, passes through this compartment to the othersection E; then, turning on a pulley-WheeLf, secured in position, passesthrough partition B, and takes a return direction through compartment 2,and similarly back and forth over pulley-Wheels 2o f, through thecompartments 8 4 5 6, until it reaches the first section E, Where itpasses through the partitions B,Where it is j oined in compartment landso made endless. In section 1 the rope I passes around a suitable Wheel,F, the axle of which is prolonged to the sides of the section, so as tobe moved by a movable Winch outside of the conduit and within thechamber D, as L, Figs. 2 and 3. When vthe Wheel F is revolved, motion isimparted to the rope I in every compartment in a direction according tothe motion of the wheel F. It is therefore evident that wires A may bedrawn through the length of any compartment, beginning at the top orbottom compartment. The Workman in the chamber D may thus seat anynumber of wires in each compartment by simply attaching each Wire to thetraveler and operating the Winch. The rope I may be arranged to travelon the floor of each compartment, running vin an open groove, ifrequired, and may have loop attachscribed, between each separatecompartment of the conduit and said chamber, as and for the purposespecified.

2. The combination, with the conduit A, divided into avertical series ofcompartments by partitions B, and having branch section E,

'Web D, cy'linder H, and openings C, one .from

each compartment into the man-hole space comprised by said cylinder, ofthe endless rope ortraveler I, running back and forth through theseveral compartments, and having thepulleysfand the Winch L within theman-hole chamber, as and for the purpose set forth.

THEODORE A. B. PUTNAM. Witnesses:

F. M. SEAVER, JAMES WILLs.

